An unpleasant dandruff discovery
Posted Thursday, January 29, 2009
Has your dandruff been resistant to treatment shampoos? Researchers may now know why, and it’s not a pretty picture: the dandruff is probably mating on your head as you read this. (Yuck.)
Last month, the scientists in Procter & Gamble's beauty division reported that they successfully sequenced dandruff’s genes, or more specifically, the genome of malessezia globosa. This fungus grows on the majority of the population, and it is responsible for a range of skin conditions, from dandruff and eczema in adults to a life-threatening infection in infants.
In addition to getting a greater understanding of this microorganism’s genetic make-up, the scientists discovered that the dandruff fungus may be capable of sexual reproduction. This new revelation has the beauty researchers thinking that this may help those unwanted flakes dodge even the strongest dandruff shampoo.
Luckily, with this breakthrough information, scientists can now work on new, more effective methods of eliminating dandruff.
Tags: dandruff, eczema, fungus, genetics, Procter and Gamble, research, shampoo